With many options and little information, you may feel a smile makeover is unattainable. However, a big improvement can come from only a few dental visits with porcelain dental veneers. Dr. Scott Stone at Smile by Stone in Lansing, MI, can help you create a smile you feel confident about.

What is a Porcelain Dental Veneer?
Porcelain dental veneers are a super-thin, tooth-shaped shell which fits over the surface of the tooth to restore its appearance. The veneer is color-matched to the teeth that will surround it to ensure that it fits into your smile seamlessly. Each veneer is handmade by a technician in a dental laboratory based on a clay mold of your mouth taken by your dentist.

Why might I need a Porcelain Dental Veneer?
Dentists use porcelain veneers to treat many issues:

Chipped teeth

Cracked teeth

Slight misalignments

Slight gaps

Discolored/Yellowed teeth

Porcelain Dental Veneers in Lansing, MI
Veneers usually require two visits with your dentist. The first appointment will include preparing your teeth to receive the veneers. First, Dr. Stone will remove a small layer of enamel from the surface of the tooth. Then, your dentist takes a clay mold of the mouth to base the design of your veneers. You may need to wear temporary veneers for two or so weeks while the dental lab to create your veneers. At your second appointment, your dentist removes the temporary restorations and replaces them with your final veneers.

If you think porcelain dental veneers may be the right option for you, call your Lansing, MI, dentist at (517) 482-5546 to schedule your consulation today!

‘Tis the season to consider the best option for treating your tooth loss.

Remember the song, “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth?" Well, if you are an adult who is dealing with tooth loss this holiday season, you may understand this sentiment quite literally. If this is a problem you are facing, why not give yourself the gift of a brand new smile? Our Lansing, MI dentist, Dr. Scott Stone, can help you get a new smile for the New Year with help from dental implants.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a small metal post or screw that takes the place of your missing tooth roots. The treatment requires our Lansing, MI, general dentist to position the restoration into the jawbone so that the two will fuse together to become one over the course of several months.

Who is a good candidate for dental implants?

There are many factors involved in determining whether or not your smile is right for dental implants. Some things to consider include:

Your health: This includes both your oral and overall health. We will want to make sure that not only is your mouth healthy enough to support and nurture your implant but also that you are healthy enough to undergo surgery. If you have any chronic health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure it’s important that these problems are being properly managed before getting dental implants.

Patience: Getting implants takes time. In fact, it can take up to one year or longer to get your new tooth. Of course, this restoration could just end up lasting the rest of your life, so all that waiting and patience will certainly pay off in the end.

Your budget: While implants can save you money in the long run, we also understand that the upfront cost can be a lot. We will work with our patients to make sure that they are always able to afford the dental care they deserve; however, if you have a more modest budget than there are other options out there that may be better suited to your needs. Let’s talk about it!

Getting surgery: It’s important for patients to understand that in order to get dental implants they will need to undergo surgery. The surgery is performed right here in our office under local anesthesia, so you will be able to go home right after. Of course, even though surgery is minor, we also understand that some patients don’t want to undergo surgery to get a new tooth. This is something to consider before deciding whether implants are right for you.

Are you interested in finding out more about dental implants? Want to find out if this is the best way to replace your missing teeth? If you said “yes” then the next step is to call Smiles by Stone in Lansing, MI, at (517) 482-5546 to schedule a consultation with us. Let us put a smile back on your face!

Are you ready to get a whiter smile with professional teeth whitening?

Hoping to get your pearly whites whiter? If so, you’ve come to the right place! Our Lansing, MI, dentist, Dr. Scott Stone, has helped countless patients get brighter smiles with the help of professional teeth whitening. While DIY whitening remedies may help you, professional teeth whitening offers fast and effective results each and every time.

How does teeth whitening work?

No matter whether you are using an over-the-counter whitening kit or turning to our Lansing, MI, cosmetic dentist for quick chairside whitening treatment, the bleaching gel will contain an active ingredient known to break up stains. Most whitening gels contain either hydrogen peroxide (the same ingredient used to lighten hair) or carbamide peroxide. Both ingredients will penetrate the porous enamel and dentin layers of the tooth to break up and destroy these stain molecules.

Of course, there is a difference between at-home whitening and in-office whitening. Since we have received specialized training to be able to whiten smiles effectively and safely, this means that the whitening gel that we use contains a much higher concentration of the active ingredient. This just means that we won’t have to leave the gel on your teeth nearly as long as you would with over-the-counter products in order to see results. This is how we can get smiles anywhere from 3-9 shades whiter in just a single one-hour whitening session!

Who is a good candidate for professional teeth whitening?

There are several factors to consider when it comes to getting professional teeth whitening in Lansing, MI. First and foremost, your teeth and gums must be healthy and free from disease or decay. If we do detect any of these issues we will need to treat them before you can get teeth whitening.

Another factor to consider is the type of stains you are dealing with. Professional teeth whitening works best on yellowing teeth caused by aging, foods, and drinks. Dark stains, often from smoking, don’t typically respond as effectively to whitening treatment or may require more than one session. Stains that are internal also will not respond to whitening treatment.

Furthermore, patients who have a lot of dental work (e.g. veneers, bonding, crowns or fillings) should be aware that bleaching your smile will not brighten these artificial structures. Professional whitening will only work on natural tooth enamel. This means that some of these restorations may not completely match the shade of your smile after treatment. This is something we can discuss during your consultation.

Call today!

Here at Smile by Stone in Lansing, MI, we believe that a beautiful smile is easy to achieve with a little help. If you want to brighten that lackluster smile, then it’s time to call us at (517) 482-5546 to find out if professional teeth whitening is right for you!

Dental crowns offer many benefits that dental fillings just can’t match. In fact, for badly damaged, broken teeth, dental crowns are the best option to help you regain a strong smile. Dr. Scott Stone at Smile by Stone in Lansing, MI, wants to share how dental crowns can benefit you and your smile.

Dental crowns work differently than dental fillings because a dental crown encases the entire visible area of your tooth above the gumline. A crown protects your tooth like a suit-of-armor so that when you bite down, the force and pressure of biting are spread out evenly across the tooth surface. Your tooth is protected against breakage from biting down on foods.

In contrast, a dental filling can weaken your tooth by creating a separation between different sections of your tooth. When you bite down, one area of your tooth can feel the pressure and both the filling and a part of your tooth can break off.

In addition to making your teeth stronger, dental crowns can also make your smile more beautiful. If you have old, ugly, crumbly metal fillings, you should consider replacing them with beautiful porcelain crowns. Porcelain crowns enhance your smile because they provide:

Natural-looking beauty; porcelain is translucent, or light-reflective, just like your tooth enamel, so porcelain crowns look naturally beautiful, just like your teeth.

Worry-free beauty; porcelain is stain-resistant, so your new porcelain crowns will stay sparkling white for years.

Why settle for a damaged, broken smile when you can have a strong smile that helps you enjoy the foods you love? Why settle for a smile filled with ugly metal when you can have a beautiful smile that enhances your appearance? The answer is dental crowns made of pure, sparkling porcelain.

To get started on your new smile, all you have to do is pick up your phone and call Dr. Stone at Smile by Stone in Lansing, MI. Find out more about the benefits of dental crowns by calling him today!

Though many cosmetic dental issues have specific procedures designed to help individual problems, such as using teeth whitening to brighten a dull smile or dental bonding to repair a chipped tooth, there are few all-encompassing procedures to truly overhaul your smile. With their ability to completely change the appearance of a tooth, porcelain dental veneers are a powerful cosmetic dentistry tool. Find out more about dental veneers and what they can do for your smile with Dr. Scott Stone at Smile by Stone in Lansing, MI.

What can porcelain dental veneers do for me?
Thanks to their materials, porcelain veneers are highly versatile, allowing you to change the shape, width, length, and color of your tooth. Porcelain is easily color-matched to your surrounding natural teeth and shares similar light-reflecting qualities as natural teeth, ensuring that your veneers blend into your existing teeth seamlessly and become a natural addition to your smile.

Am I a candidate for dental veneers?
A good candidate for dental veneers has a great at-home oral care routine consisting of brushing at least twice daily and flossing once alongside regular visits to their dentist twice a year for routine examinations and cleanings. Additionally, candidates should be free from teeth decay and gum disease and should tend to these issues before considering porcelain veneers.

What can I expect from the procedure for dental veneers?
The procedure for veneers will require at least two dental visits with about two weeks in between. During the wait time between appointments, a dental laboratory will customize each veneer individually. During the first appointment, your dentist will prepare the teeth to receive the veneers and take an impression of your mouth. The dental laboratory uses this impression to design your veneers. Your second appointment is reserved for fitting and permanently attaching the final veneers to your teeth. Your dentist may suggest wearing temporary veneers over your prepared teeth to protect them until your dentist places the final restorations.

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